Biography

 

Kear is fascinated by people and perpetually curious about what motivates them to think, feel and behave as they do.

As a woman and mother, Kear has a specialist interest in female health and experiences, including issues related to fertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, birth and mothering. She also has extensive experience in working with survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of developmental and relational trauma. Kear completed her doctoral thesis entitled, “Covering up the Cracks: Women’s Lived Experiences of Domestic Abuse”, at the University of Limerick and subsequently served on the Board of Directors for Clare Haven Services, an organisation offering refuge and supports to women and children in domestic abuse situations, for many years until the birth of her own children. Human Rights and feminism are avid passions and inform her professional interests as well as personal projects.

In her work, Kear draws upon her experience as a clinical psychologist as well as specialist, advanced training in Somatic Experiencing (SE). Trained as a vinyasa flow yoga teacher, Kear is particularly interested in the application of embodied movement, mindfulness and other contemplative practices within psychotherapy, including the interface between Buddhism and psychotherapy. This interest led to the completion of various courses from the Spiritual Care Programme, offered by Dzogchen Beara. Completing SE training has deepened her interest in how neurobiology and neuroscience can inform and enhance psychological therapy, especially when working with the effects of trauma and the body. Connections between mind, body and spirit are, therefore, both personally and professionally of great importance.

More recently, Kear has developed a growing interest in the field of Positive Psychology and Character Strengths, based on the pioneering work of Martin Seligman in the USA & Alex Bailey in the UK, and its application in promoting flourishing and thriving in the work place, and enhancing community health, happiness, and well-being. Her interest in the Action for Happiness movement in the UK sparked an idea, which would later find its expression in the North Clare Happiness Project, which she founded in 2014.

Kear is currently training in Transforming the Experience-Based Brain (TEB) with Dr. Stephen Terrell. TEB is a psychobiological approach to Resolving Nonverbal Trauma History. TEB is a titration of attachment theory, Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Touch Skill, and regulation. TEB is based on the belief that if the body is in optimal regulation, then the body will heal itself.  TEB supports the clients in their healing and understands the idea of healing a lifetime of trauma. You can read more about Dr. Terrell’s approach here: Austin Attachment

TEB therapist serve as facilitators and counsellors to help clients heal themselves. Therapist use stories, humour, music, movement, somatic touch and work directly with who shows up in the session to bring healing energies into the healing space. The healing process also goes beyond the individual client and brings into account not only the client’s immediate family and epigenetic past but future generations as well.

In February 2022, Kear left her role within HSE specialist secondary Community Mental Health services after over 14 years. Alongside a thriving private practice, she is excited to be joining the team at the new VHI 360 Centre in Limerick, as a Senior Clinical Psychologist with their Positive Minds project. Onwards!

For more detailed information on Kear’s education and employment history on LinkedIn.

 

“There is freedom waiting for you,

On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask “What if I fall?”

Oh but my darling, What if you fly?”

Erin Hanson

Continued Professional Development

  • Deep Listening Course: Advanced professional training over five days. Deep listening supports listening with mindfulness, presence and compassion. Training was completed with Rosamund Oliver at Dzogchen Beara.
  • Compassion and Presence Training: Completed with Christine Longaker, author of Facing Death & Finding Hope: A Guide to the Emotional and Spiritual Care of Dying
  • Healing Relationships: Weekend retreat with Bernie Jeffery, John Douglas & Rosamund Oliver (May 2013).
  • Jefferey Young’s Schema Therapy: In depth training in both individual and group settings. The therapy is an extensively researched approach to effectively treat a wide variety of complex characterological and personality difficulties – including Borderline & Narcissistic Adaptions to early trauma (Autumn 2009).
  • Meditation Retreats: With Thich Nhat Hahn, Sogyal Rinpoche and various Rigpa Teachers
  • Wellbeing Confident Leader Training in applying Martin Seligman’s PERMA Model to enhance and support wellbeing in the workplace with Bailey & French (August 2018)

“The true absence of depression is not gaiety or absence of pain, but vitality: the freedom to experience spontaneous feelings”

Anonymous